Atrophic Kidney

hello!!!
My name is Lily and i have an atrophic left kidney due to reflux scarring in the past. They found out that my kidney only works six percent. But my Other one works 94 percent...They want to remove my left one because they think that it will bring my hypertension down.How could they be so sure of this? I dont want to remove it for nothing....what if they kidney function increases!

[DoriSchatell]

Hi Lily,

Excellent question. We're not doctors, but I have to say that I've worked in this field for 20 years and never figured out how they measure the function of one kidney vs. the other. If I had to guess, I'd say either ultrasound or some sort of IV imaging test, like an IVP, where the doctors can SEE the function. Have you had these sorts of tests done?

If you have 96% function in your other kidney, you have about 50% function overall. This would put you in stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD). If you can keep 50% function, then your kidney function can last as long as you do. If your other kidney suffers the same sort of damage, you could reach kidney failure. This is, no doubt, what your doctor is trying to prevent.

Reflux scarring is preventable if it's diagnosed. Surgery can fix it. Unfortunately, it is probably missed more often than it is caught. It's good news to have it caught while there is still time to do something to protect the rest of your kidney function. Ask your doctor HOW he or she knows that your other kidney is definitely the cause of your high blood pressure. Get a second opinion, if you need to, and a third, until you are certain. Ask what happens if you wait and take blood pressure pills. Once you are sure, then you can decide how you want to proceed.